Can end with inseparable tear strip and latch means for holding tear strip against can wall

ABSTRACT

A container comprising a container body and a can end of sheet material attached to the container body. The can end has a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion partially removable from the can end to form an opening in the can end. A tab is attached to the tear portion to partially remove the tear portion from the can end and for peeling the tear portion back away from the opening. Cooperating members are provided on the tab and the container for retaining the tab and tear strip in the peeled back condition.

Unite States Paten 1191 1111 ama Silver [451 May 1, 1973 54] CAN END WITH INSEPARABLE TEAR 3,442,416 5/1969 Nicholson ..220/54 STRIP AND LATCH MEANS F OR HOLDING TEAR STRIP AGAINST CAN WALL v [75] Inventor: Francis M. Silver, Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: Ermall C. Fraze, Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 218,319

[52] US. Cl "220/54 [5 l] lint. Cl. ..B65d 17/24 [58] Field of Search ..22()/54, 48, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,386,613 6/1968 Traynor ..220/54 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney-Gordon L. Peterson et al.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A container comprising a container body and a can end of sheet material attached to the container body. The can end has a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion partially removable from the can end to form an opening in the ,can end. A tab is attached to the tear portion to partially remove the tear portion from the can end and for peeling the tear portion back away from the opening. Cooperating members are provided on the tab and the container for retaining the tab and tear strip in the peeled back condition.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CAN END WITH INSEPARABLE TEAR STRIP AND LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING TEAR STRIP AGAINST CAN WALL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a typical easy opening container, a line of weakness in the container wall defines a tear portion which is removable-from the container wall to define an opening in the container wall. A tab is attached to the tear portion to remove the tear portion.

Although containers of this type have great utility and are very popular, unfortunately the consumer all too often carelessly discards the tab and tear portion. Although the container may also be carelessly discarded, it can be located and picked up much more easily than the relatively small tab and tear portion. Consequently thoughtlessness in the use of easy opening containers has created a litter problem.

To solve the litter problem, various easy opening containers have been developed in" which the tear portion is not removable from the container wall. In one such easy opening container, the line of weakness terminates in two spaced ends with the sheet material between such ends preventing removal of the tear portion. The tab is used topeel the tear portion back over the peripheral edge of the container wall. One problem with this construction is that the tear portion and tab are not retained in the peeled back condition other than by the deformed sheet material which joins the tear portion to the container wall. As such, the tab, the tear portion and in particular the sharp edges of the tear portion may hinder the consumer in his use of the container. For example, these factors may hinder the consumer in drinking a beverage directly from the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves these problems by providing an easy opening container in which the tab and tear portion are positively retained in the peeled back condition. Accordingly, it is no longer necessary to rely on the sheet material, which holds the tear portion to the container, to perform this function. As the tab and tear portion are interconnected, it is only necessary to positively retain one of them in the peeled back condition.

The tab and the tear portion form a partially removable segment of the container. Cooperating means are provided on the partially removable segment and at least one of the container body and container wall. Preferably the cooperating means includes interlocking means or latching means for positively retaining the tab and tear portion in position.

The portion of the interlocking means formed on the partially removable segment can be conveniently formed on the tab and take the form of a locking projection. One feature of this invention is the formation of aportion of the interlocking means on a tab which is integrally constructed of sheet material. In a preferred form of the invention, the locking projection includes a locking or latching flange formed integrally with an attaching ear of the tab and projecting outwardly of the container wall prior to severance of the line of weakness.

The portion of the interlocking means formed on the container wall and/or the container body may be a specially configured member adapted to interlock with the locking flange of the tab. However, the present invention teaches that this portion of the interlocking means can advantageously include at least a portion of the means which attaches the container wall to the container body. More particularly, such attachment means typically includes a peripheral bead or flange formed adjacent the juncture of the container wall and the container body. The present invention teaches that the locking flange on the tab can be caused to cooperate with this bead to positively retain the tab and the tear portion in the peeled back condition. By using the head, the need for providing a special configuration in the container body or the container wall for the purpose of cooperating with the locking flange of the tab is eliminated.

In order that the tab can be peeled back over the edge of the container wall, the tear portion must be of at least a predetermined length. For example, the tear portion may extend generally radially from a first location on the container wall to a second location on the container wall and be attached to the tab closely adjacent the second location. In use of the can end, the tear strip is torn or peeled back from the second location toward the first location with the tab moving the second location toward the periphery of the container. In this instance, the distance between the first and second locations must be sufficient to allow the locking flange of the tab to cooperate with the bead of the container.

The invention can best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an easy opening container constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the container with the tab and tear portion latched in the open position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, elevational view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, bottom plan view of the tab.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a container 11 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The container l 1 includes an easy opening container wall in the form of an easy opening can end 13 and a container body in the form of a can body 15. The easy opening can end 13 includes a can end 17 constructed of sheet material such as aluminum. The upper end of the can body 15 is deformed outwardly and downwardly to define a downwardly opening U-shaped flange 19 (FIG. 2). The can end 17 is curled to define an attaching flange or bead 21 which embraces the U-shaped flange l9 and which terminates within the U-shaped flange. The bead 21 defines a downwardly facing annular shoulder 23. Although various methods may be utilized to attach the can end 17 to the can body 15, it is preferred to use amethod which results in the formation of a shoulder such as the shoulder 23.

The can end 17 has a line of weakness 25 therein which defines a tear portion 27. The line of weakness 25 in the embodiment illustrated is in the form of a continuous score line which terminates in spaced apart ends 29 with the sheet material between the spaced ends 29 defining a terminal end of the tear portion and serving to permanently attach the tear portion 27 to the can end 17. The opposite end of the tear portion 27 is the leading end. Although the tear portion 27 can be of various configurations and have various orientations relative to the can end 17, in the embodiment illustrated the tear portion is elongated and extends generally radially of the can end 17.

The easy opening can end 13 also includes a tab 31. Although the tab 31 may be constructed in many different ways, preferably the tab 31 is constructed from a single piece of aluminum sheet metal. The tab 31 generally includes a ringlike tab body 33 and an attachment portion or mounting ear 35 attached to the tab body by a pliable connecting portion 37 which permits the tab body to be pivoted relative to the attachment ear. The tab body 33 circumscribes the attachment portion 35 and defines a finger receiving opening 39. An outer region of the tab body 33 is turned inwardly to define an outer reinforcing bead 41 which extends substantially continuously around the outer periphery of the tab body and which is interrupted at a handle end 43 of the tab body. An inner region of the tab body is turned outwardly to define an inner reinforcing bead 45 which extends substantially continuously along the inner periphery of the tab body and which is interrupted at the attachment ear 35. The tab body 31 has an end 46 opposite the handle end 43.

The attachment portion 35 is integrally joined to the tab body 33 by the pliable connecting portion 37 at a location diametrically opposite the handle end 43. The attachment portion 35 extends generally radially of the tab body 33. The attachment portion 35 is adapted for attachment to the tear portion 27 and to this end includes an aperture 47 for receiving a rivet 49 (FIG. 1) which may be formed integrally with the sheet material of the tear portion to thereby attach the tab 31 to the tear portion.

The attachment portion 35 terminates at the end nearest the handle end in a locking flange 51. The locking flange 51 is formed by turning the inner end portion of the attachment portion 35 upwardly. The locking flange 51 is reinforced against bending by a dimple 53 formed immediately behind the locking flange 51. The attachment portion 35 has side edges 55 and 57, and the locking flange terminates at the side edges or slightly inwardly thereof.

The tab 31 is attached to the tear portion 27 at the end thereof remote from the ends 29 of the line of weakness 25 as shown in FIG. 1. The tab 31 extends back toward the end of the tear portion 27 defined by the ends 29. The end 46 of the tab body 33 lies outside of the tear portion 27.

In operation, the user lifts upwardly on the handle end 43 of the tab 31. This pivots the tab body 33 about the pliable connecting portion 37 relative to the attachment portion 35. This causes the end 46 of the tab body 33 to bear against the can end 17 outside of the tear portion 27 to thereby apply an upward rupturing force to the line of weakness 25. Following initial severance of the line of weakness 25, the user exerts a pulling force upwardly and in the direction of the line of weakness 25 to thereby peel the tear portion 27 away from the upper end of the can end. When the sheet material along the line of weakness 25 is ruptured substantially to the ends 29, the user can bend the tab body and the end portion of the tear portion into the position shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the locking flange 51 engages the shoulder 23 to thereby positively latch the tear portion 27 and the tab 31 in the open or peeled back position. Any tendency of the tear strip 27 to return toward a closed position is prevented by the interengagement of the shoulder 23 and the locking flange 51.

The tear portion 27 is sufficiently long to extend to the position shown in FIG. 3 in which a segment of the tear portion is wrapped around part of the bead 21 and in which the shoulder 23 is engaged by the locking flange 51. The tear portion 27 shown in FIG. 1 could be shortened if it is moved an appropriate distance to the right as viewed in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the location of the locking flange 51 can be varied if corresponding changes in the length and/or location of the tear portion 27 are made.

If desired, the can body 15 may be provided with a shoulder other than the shoulder 23 for the purposes of cooperation with the locking flange 51. However, it is preferred to employ a method of attachment between the can end 17 and the can body 15 which inherently produces a shoulder 23 thereby eliminating the need for forming a special shoulder on the can body.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, many changes, modifications and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Iclaim:

1. A container comprising:

a container body;

a container end of sheet material; means for attaching the container end to the container body;

said container end having a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion partially removable from the container end to form an opening in said container end;

a tab constructed of sheet material and attached to the tear portion for partially removing the tear portion from the can end and for peeling the tear portion back to allow at least a portion of the tab to substantially confront a portion of the container body to thereby define a retained position of the tab and the tear portion, a portion of the sheet material of said tab defining a locking projection which projects outwardly of the container end prior to partial removal of the tear portion; and

means on at least one of the container end and the container body for interlocking with the locking projection to retain the tab and the tear portion in said retained position.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the portion of said last mentioned means which is on at least one of said container body and said container end includes at least a portion of said means for attaching.

3. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said attaching means defines a shoulder, said tab includes a mounting ear attached to the tear portion, said means for interlocking including at least a portion of said shoulder, and a portion of said mounting ear defining said locking projection.

4. An easy opening container wall attachable to a container body, said easy opening container wall comprising:

a container Wall of sheet material, said container wall having a peripheral attaching flange for use in attaching the container wall to a container body;

a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion which is partially removable from the container wall;

a tab for partially removing the tear portion by tearing of the sheet material long the line of weakness to thereby form an opening in the container wall, said tab including a mounting ear and a tab body attached to the mounting ear for pivotal movement relative thereto;

means for attaching said mounting ear of said tab to said tear portion;

said tab including a locking flange projecting outwardly of the container wall; and

said tear portion being of sufficient length to allow the tear portion to be pulled back by said tab across a region of the container wall and to allow the locking flange to interlock with the attaching flange when the container wall is attached to a container body to thereby lock the tab and tear portion in an open position.

5. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 4 wherein said mounting ear terminates in said locking flange.

6. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 4 wherein the line of weakness terminates in two spaced ends each of which is spaced inwardly from the peripheral attaching flange, said mounting ear of said tab being attached to the tear portion at the end thereof opposite said ends of said line of weakness, said tab body having a lifting end and being attached to said mounting ear at the end thereof opposite said lifting end.

7. A container comprising:

a container body;

a can end of sheet material;

means including a peripherally extending bead for attaching the can end to the can body;

said can end having a tear portion, said tear portion having a leading end and a terminal end with the terminal end being permanently attached to the can end;

a tab attached to the tear portion adjacent the leading end for partially removing the tear portion from the can end;

said tab having a locking flange projecting away from the can end prior to initiation of severance of the sheet material along the line of weakness by the tab; and

said tear portion being sufficiently long to allow the tear portion to be pulled back across a region of the can end and to allow the locking flange to interlock with said bead to latch the tab and tear portion in the pulled back condition.

8. A container as defined in claim 7 wherein said tab includes a mounting ear and a tab body at least substantially surrounding sald mounting ear, said tab body having a handle end at one end and being pivotally joined to said mounting ear adjacent the other end of said tab body, said mounting car being attached to said tear portion, said locking flange being provided on said mounting ear.

9. A tab constructed from a single piece of sheet material comprising:

an attachment portion;

a ring-like tab body substantially circumscribing said attachment portion;

a pliable connecting portion for integrally joining the attachment portion to one end of said tab body for pivotal movement of the tab body relative to the attachment portion; 7

the other end of said tab body defining a handle end;

and I said attachment portion extending from said connecting portion toward said handle end and terminating at the end thereof nearer the handle end in an upstanding latching flange, said attachment portion having side edges, said flange terminating at said side edges. 

1. A container comprising: a container body; a container end of sheet material; means for attaching the container end to the container body; said container end having a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion partially removable from the container end to form an opening in said container end; a tab constructed of sheet material and attached to the tear portion for partially removing the tear portion from the can end and for peeling the tear portion back to allow at least a portion of the tab to substantially confront a portion of the container body to thereby define a retained position of the tab and the tear portion, a portion of the sheet material of said tab defining a locking projection which projects outwardly of the container end prior to partial removal of the tear portion; and means on at least one of the container end and the container body for interlocking with the locking projection to retain the tab and the tear portion in said retained position.
 2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the portion of said last mentioned means which is on at least one of said container body and said container end includes at least a portion of said means for attaching.
 3. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said attaching means defines a shoulder, said tab includes a mounting ear attached to the tear portion, said means for interlocking including at least a portion of said shoulder, and a portion of said mounting ear defining said locking projection.
 4. An easy opening container wall attachable to a container body, said easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material, said container wall having a peripheral attaching flange for use in attaching the container wall to a container body; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion which is partially removable from the container wall; a tab for partially removing the tear portion by tearing of the sheet material long the line of weakness to thereby form an opening in the container wall, said tab including a mounting ear and a tab body attached to the mounting ear for pivotal movement relative thereto; means for attaching said mounting ear of said tab to said tear portion; said tab including a locking flange projecting outwardly of the container wall; and said tear portion being of sufficient length to allow the tear portion to be pulled back by said tab across a region of the container wall and to allow the locking flange to interlock with the attaching flange when the container wall is attached to a container body to thereby lock the tab and tear portion in an open position.
 5. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 4 wherein said mounting ear terminates in said locking flange.
 6. An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 4 wherein the line of weakness terminates in two spaced ends each of which is spaced inwardly from the peripheral attaching flange, said mounting ear of said tab being attached to the tear portion at the end thereof opposite said ends of said line of weakness, said tab body having a lifting end and being attached to said mounting ear at the end thereof opposite said lifting end.
 7. A container comprising: a container body; a can end of sheet material; means including a peripherally extending bead for attaching the can end to the can body; said can end having a tear portion, said tear portion having a leading end and a terminal end with the terminal end being pErmanently attached to the can end; a tab attached to the tear portion adjacent the leading end for partially removing the tear portion from the can end; said tab having a locking flange projecting away from the can end prior to initiation of severance of the sheet material along the line of weakness by the tab; and said tear portion being sufficiently long to allow the tear portion to be pulled back across a region of the can end and to allow the locking flange to interlock with said bead to latch the tab and tear portion in the pulled back condition.
 8. A container as defined in claim 7 wherein said tab includes a mounting ear and a tab body at least substantially surrounding said mounting ear, said tab body having a handle end at one end and being pivotally joined to said mounting ear adjacent the other end of said tab body, said mounting ear being attached to said tear portion, said locking flange being provided on said mounting ear.
 9. A tab constructed from a single piece of sheet material comprising: an attachment portion; a ring-like tab body substantially circumscribing said attachment portion; a pliable connecting portion for integrally joining the attachment portion to one end of said tab body for pivotal movement of the tab body relative to the attachment portion; the other end of said tab body defining a handle end; and said attachment portion extending from said connecting portion toward said handle end and terminating at the end thereof nearer the handle end in an upstanding latching flange, said attachment portion having side edges, said flange terminating at said side edges. 